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Histopathologic Diagnosis of Fungal Infections in the 21st Century Full Text
Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 04/13/2011
Exclusive author commentary
Guarner J et al. – Alternate techniques have been used to determine the specific agent present in the histopathologic specimen, including immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, and PCR. In addition, techniques such as laser microdissection will be useful to detect the now more frequently recognized dual fungal infections and the local environment in which this phenomenon occurs.
Jeannette Guarner (04/17/2011) comments:
One of the important aspects presented in the article is the need for collaboration of different specialties when dealing with fungal infections. Surgeons and interventional radiologists need to communicate with infectious disease physicians, pathologists, and microbiologists so that the specimen obtained is handled correctly. If the entire specimen is placed in formalin and no cultures are available, the article describes how pathologists need to present the diagnosis and comment so that the correct fungal diagnosis is made and the appropriate treatment is given.
